New Delhi, Nov 13: As many as 123 deemed-to-be-universities have been asked to drop the word ‘university’ from their names by the University Grant Commission. In a letter dated November 10, the UGC said the use of word ‘university’ by deemed-to-be-universities violates the Section 23 of the UGC Act. The letter cites the Supreme Court order dated November 3, 2017, which made the similar point.
“We must also put on record what we have observed during the course of the hearing and consideration of the present matters. It has come to our notice that many institutions which are conferred the status of Deemed to be Universities are using the word “University”, which in our view is opposed to the spirit of Section 23 of the UGC Act. The UGC shall take appropriate steps for stop such practice,” the Supreme Court stated in November.
The Section 23 of the UGC Act, 1956 says, “No institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word “University” associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.” The deemed-to-be-universities cannot use the word ‘university’ as a suffix to the institution name but can use Deemed to be University within parenthesis, said an NDTV report.
A deemed-to-be-university may submit a proposal with an alternative name (without using the word ‘University’) to the UGC or Human Resource and Development (HRD) ministry so that necessary amendment can be made by the Ministry of HRD.
